Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Bhutan)

Last updated
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade
ཕྱི་འབྲལ་དང་ཕྱིར་ཚོང་ལྷན་ཁག།
phyi 'brel dang phyi tshong lhan khag
Emblem of Bhutan.svg
Bhutan Foreign Ministry Building.jpg
Agency overview
Jurisdiction Government of Bhutan
Minister responsible
Website www.mfa.gov.bt

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Dzongkha: ཕྱི་འབྲལ་དང་ཕྱིར་ཚོང་ལྷན་ཁག; Wylie: phyi 'brel dang phyi tshong lhan khag) renamed as Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade [1] is the Bhutanese government ministry which oversees the foreign relations of Bhutan. The Royal Government of Bhutan established the Development Ministry in 1968, which was a precursor to the institution of the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1970 and subsequent up gradation to a full-fledged ministry in 1972. [2]

Contents

As of right now, Bhutan maintains diplomatic ties with 54 nations, including the EU. New Delhi, Dhaka, Kuwait, Bangkok, Brussels, Canberra, and New York are home to its resident diplomatic missions, while New York and Geneva are home to its permanent US representations. In New York, Guwahati, and Kolkata, Bhutan has consulates. There are seventeen Bhutanese Honorary Consuls overseas. In Thimphu, there are resident missions from Kuwait, Bangladesh, and India. Bhutan is home to honorary consuls from fifteen nations. A number of international organisations, including the UN and others, have country offices in Thimphu. [2]

Background

The Development Ministry established in 1968, was a precursor to the establishment of the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1970. With the increasing need to undertake a focused approach to foreign policy, the department was upgraded to a Ministry in 1972.

Late Lyonpo Dawa Tshering was the first Foreign Minister. In the beginning, the Ministry had two departments: the Department of Multilateral Affairs and the Department of Bilateral Affairs. The Division level offered protocol services. The Asia and SAARC Division and the America and Europe Division were the two divisions of the Department of Bilateral Affairs. Under the Multilateral Department were the International Convention & Treaties Division and the Multilateral Division.

The Department of SAARC & Regional Organisations was founded with three divisions: the SAARC Division, the BIMSTEC Division, and the ACD and Others Division, during the 10th Five Year Plan (2008–2013). During the 11th Five Year Plan (2013–2018), two additional departments were added in response to the growing mission and workload. The former Protocol Division was transformed into a Department consisting of three divisions: the Mission & Consular Services Division, the Program & Hospitality Division, and the Passport Division. To provide all support services related to administration and finance, human resources, procurement, information and communications technology, and legal services, the Directorate of Services (DoS) was established. Additionally, the Department of Multilateral Affairs and the Department of Bilateral Affairs were reorganised, each gaining a new division. In order to spread knowledge and foster a better understanding of Bhutan overseas, the Public Diplomacy Division was created in the 12th Five Year Plan (2018–2023). [2]

Vision

"Advancing Gross National Happiness for a peaceful, prosperous and sovereign Bhutan" [2]

Mission

"A professional Foreign Service that is responsive to Bhutan’s interests and aspirations" [2]

Departments

The Departments unders Ministry of Foreign Affairs: [2]

List of ministers

This is a list of ministers of foreign affairs of Bhutan: [3]

No.Name
(Birth–Death)
PortraitTenure
1 Dawa Tsering
(1935–2007)
No image.png 1972–1998
2 Jigme Thinley
(b. 1952)
Jigme Thinley (cropped).jpg 1998–2003
3 Khandu Wangchuk
(b. 1950)
Khandu Wangchuk (cropped).jpg 2003–2007
Yeshey Dorji
Acting Minister
Yeshey Dorji (cropped).jpg 2007–2008
4 Ugyen Tshering
(b. 1954)
Ugyen Tshering (cropped).jpg 2008–2013
5 Rinzin Dorji
(b. 1964)
Rinzin Dorji (cropped).JPG 2013–2015
6 Damcho Dorji
(b. 1965)
Damcho Dorji 2016 (cropped).jpg 2015–2018
Tshering Wangchuk
Advisor
Tshering Wangchuk (cropped).JPG 2018
7 Tandi Dorji
(b. 1968)
Deputy Secretary Sullivan Meets with Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji in Thimphu, Bhutan (48526062911) (cropped).jpg 2018–2024
8 D. N. Dhungyel Lyonpo D.N. Dhungyel (cropped).jpg 2024–present

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreign relations of Bhutan</span>

Bhutan has diplomatic relations with 56 of 193 member states of the United Nations and the European Union. Bhutan's limited number of such relations, including the absence of formal relations with any of the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, is part of a deliberate isolationist policy of limiting foreign influence in the state. This stance has been safeguarded by close relations with India, of which Bhutan has previously been considered a protected state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan)</span> Government ministry of Japan

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is an executive department of the Government of Japan, and is responsible for the country's foreign policy and international relations.

Diplomatic rank is a system of professional and social rank used in the world of diplomacy and international relations. A diplomat's rank determines many ceremonial details, such as the order of precedence at official processions, table seatings at state dinners, the person to whom diplomatic credentials should be presented, and the title by which the diplomat should be addressed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian Foreign Service</span> Diplomatic service of the Government of India

The Indian Foreign Service (IFS) is a diplomatic service and a central civil service of the Government of the Republic of India under the Ministry of External Affairs. The Foreign Secretary is the head of the service. Vikram Misri is the 35th and the current Foreign Secretary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Department of Foreign Affairs (Philippines)</span> Executive department of the Philippine government

The Department of Foreign Affairs is the executive department of the Philippine government tasked to contribute to the enhancement of national security, protection of the territorial integrity and national sovereignty, to participate in the national endeavor of sustaining development and enhancing the Philippines' competitive edge, to protect the rights and promote the welfare of Filipinos overseas and to mobilize them as partners in national development, to project a positive image of the Philippines, and to increase international understanding of Philippine culture for mutually-beneficial relations with other countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Turkey)</span> Government ministry of Turkey

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the governmental body responsible for conducting foreign relations of the Republic of Turkey. The Ministry is responsible for Turkey's diplomatic missions abroad as well as providing support for Turkish citizens and promoting Turkish culture. The ministry implements Turkish foreign policy in accordance with the country's national interests. Established on 2 May 1920, its primary duties are administering diplomatic missions, negotiating international treaties and agreements, and representing the Republic of Turkey at the United Nations. The ministry is headquartered in the Turkish capital of Ankara and counts on more than 200 missions as embassies, permanent representation offices and consulates general, abroad. As of 2021, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains 235 diplomatic posts worldwide. The current Minister of Foreign Affairs is Hakan Fidan, who has held the position since 3 June 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Azerbaijan)</span> Governmental agency of Azerbaijan Republic

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan is a Cabinet-level governmental agency of Azerbaijan Republic in charge of conducting and designing the country's foreign policy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs</span>

The Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation is the foreign affairs ministry of Belgium and is responsible for Belgian foreign policy, relations with the European Union, development cooperation policy and certain aspects of foreign trade policy. The central government in Brussels directs the network of diplomatic and consular representations abroad.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a cabinet ministry of the Government of Sri Lanka responsible for conducting and managing Sri Lanka's foreign relations through oversight of its missions abroad via the Sri Lanka Overseas Service, as well as drafting and general implementation of the nation's foreign policy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Moldova)</span> Ministry in the government of Moldova

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is one of the fourteen ministries of the Government of Moldova.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Belarus)</span> Belarusian government ministry

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus is the Belarusian government ministry which oversees the foreign relations of Belarus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Serbia)</span> Ministry in the Government of Serbia

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia is the ministry in the government of Serbia which is in the charge of maintaining the consular affairs and foreign relations of Serbia. The current minister is Marko Đurić, in office since 2 May 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Malaysia)</span> Ministry of the Government of Malaysia

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, abbreviated KLN, is a ministry of the Government of Malaysia that is responsible for foreign affairs, Malaysian diaspora, foreigners in Malaysia, diplomacy, foreign relations, counter terrorism, bilateral affairs, multilateral affairs, ASEAN, international protocol, consular services, maritime affairs, and chemical weapons. It is currently based in Putrajaya. It is also widely known as Wisma Putra, which is also the name of its building in Putrajaya.

Ruchira Kamboj is a retired Indian Foreign Service officer of the 1987 batch, who last served as India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations from August 2022 to May 2024 until her retirement. She has previously served as High Commissioner of India to South Africa, first female Indian Ambassador to Bhutan and Ambassador/Permanent Representative of India to UNESCO, Paris.

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia is an executive department of the Government of Slovenia responsible for relations with other countries and international organisations, monitoring of the international political and economic situation, and strengthening of Slovenia's relations with other countries and international organisations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chief of protocol</span> Government official

The Chief of Protocol (CoP) is a government official who heads the protocol department of a state, overseeing security, logistics and etiquette in diplomatic and national functions. A protocol department decides on diplomatic immunity and privileges, diplomatic host security, diplomatic use of airspace and it is the guardian of official etiquette. Advance protocol teams, usually headed by the Chief of Protocol, engage as first contact between governments for the planning of bilateral and multilateral summits and visits.

Kunzang Chhoden Namgyel became Bhutan's first female ambassador and the country's permanent representative to the United Nations in January 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bhutan–Germany relations</span> Bilateral relations

Bhutan–Germany relations are the bilateral relations between Bhutan and Germany. Germany has a non-resident embassy housed in New Delhi. Bhutan is represented in Germany by its embassy in Brussels. Both Germany and Bhutan have honorary consuls in each of their countries.

References

  1. "Ministries and Departments Reconstituted and their new names". The Bhutanese. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Background – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade". www.mfa.gov.bt. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
  3. "Foreign ministers A–D". rulers.org. B. Schemmel. Retrieved 10 January 2015.